Plans for t/,e Reorganieation of the Frontier
245
Guadalupe in Texas was calculated to be five hundred eighty-five leagues. Allowing for inevitable detours and deviations dictated by the terrain, the actual distance might be said to be from six hundred fifty to seven hundred leagues. Along the indicated line the presidios were to be placed as nearly equidistant as circumstances permitted. This would make the average distance between them forty leagues. In this way each post could render effective aid and support to its immediate neighbor, a thing impos- sible when located over two hundred leagues apart, as were San Antonio and Los Adaes. The line proposed was impossible, Rubi admitted frankly,' since it would necessarily have to be modified so as to take in New Mexico, which jutted northward. With this one exception, however, the arbitrary limits sug- gested marked in reality the true bounds of actual Spanish dominion. Paradoxical as it might appear, the confinement of Spanish arms to the restricted limits of the new line would in fact extend the de facto dominions of the king by affording real and not imaginary protection to the settled areas of New Spain along its northern frontier and hy allowing them to develop free from Indian raids. Briefly the line suggested would start at Altar on the west coast and extend east first to Tubae. This post, founded in a prosperous mining area, should be moved a short distance west to bring it within the required forty leagues. It was an important presidio, being the key to the effective defense of Sonora. Next was Presidio de Terrenate, somewhat south of the thirty degree parallel. From Terrenate to El Paso and on into Texas was the area menaced by the perfidious Apaches. The fourth presidio was Fronteras, which should be moved slightly farther east to bring it closer to Janos in Nueva Vizcaya. The location of Janos was well chosen and on the desired line, but the commander Captain Francisco Loyzaola was perhaps the most incompetent of all the commanders on the northern frontier. Through his "shameful inaction an artificial and indecorous peace" had been established with the Gilefios, who like the Apaches raided Chihuahua unmolested under a feigned friendship. Southeast from Janos was Presidio de San Buenaventura in the valley of the same name. No worse location for a military post could have been chosen. But it was to be expected, Rubi sarcastically remarked, when the Governor of Nueva Vizcaya entrusted its founding to Captain Manuel de Villaverde, who knew nothing about such matters. The site was ideal for the total extermi- nation of the unfortunate garrison. The presidio should be moved north- ward as soon as possible to bring it up to the line, possibly to a site at
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